ATLANTA - The unemployment rate for August fell slightly or held steady in every metro area in Georgia -- except Columbus. <br>
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State Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that he's encouraged by the job growth he is seeing in the southern part of the state. He named the Albany, Macon and Savannah areas. <br>
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He says it appears these three non-Atlanta metro areas may be leading Georgia's economic recovery. <br>
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Here are the August unemployment rates for Georgia metropolitan areas, compared to the unemployment rates for July: <br>
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-- Albany, five-point-one percent, down from five-point-five percent. <br>
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-- Athens, three percent, unchanged <br>
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-- Atlanta, four-point-nine percent, down from five-point-one percent. <br>
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-- Augusta, five-point-one percent, down from five-point-four percent. <br>
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-- Columbus, five-point-six percent, up from five-point-three percent. <br>
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-- Macon, four-point-two percent, unchanged <br>
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-- Savannah, three-point-eight percent, down from four-point-two percent <br>
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The statewide unemployment rate fell for the second straight month. The rate for August, released last week, was four-point-seven percent, down from four-point-nine in July. The state's jobless rate in August 2001 was four percent.
